Explainers
Longer, sourced explanations of the coverage decisions people face every year.
Our daily editions summarize the news. These explainers go deeper: each one walks through a single topic step by step, using official figures from Medicare.gov, CMS and Social Security, and lists its sources at the end. We update them when the official numbers change, and the date at the top of each one shows when it was last checked.
How we write explainers
Each explainer starts from the official rules and dollar amounts, not from press releases or sales material. We write in plain English, define terms the first time we use them, and say clearly when a number applies to a specific year. We don't sell insurance or take payment from plans, and we never recommend a specific company. For decisions about your own coverage, a free State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) counselor can look at your situation one on one.
Medicare at a glance
- Part A (hospital insurance) helps pay for inpatient hospital stays, skilled nursing facility care, hospice and some home health care. Most people don't pay a premium for it because they or a spouse paid Medicare taxes while working.
- Part B (medical insurance) helps pay for doctor visits, outpatient care, preventive services and medical equipment. Most people pay a monthly premium.
- Part C (Medicare Advantage) is an alternative to Original Medicare offered by private companies approved by Medicare. Plans bundle Part A and Part B and usually Part D, often with networks.
- Part D (drug coverage) helps pay for prescription drugs. You get it through a stand-alone drug plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan that includes it.
Source: Medicare.gov: Parts of Medicare.
- Medicare & Seniors
Medicare Open Enrollment (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7): a step-by-step checklist
What you can change during Medicare's fall Open Enrollment, the letters to read first, and how to compare plans for 2027 without getting pressured.
Updated October 19, 2026
- Medicines & FDA
Medicare Part D in 2027: the $700 deductible, the $2,400 cap and the payment plan
How Medicare drug coverage costs work in 2027: the coverage stages, the new $2,400 out-of-pocket cap, the late enrollment penalty and the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan.
Updated October 19, 2026
- Medicare & Seniors
Extra Help with Medicare drug costs: who qualifies and what it pays in 2027
Extra Help (the Part D Low-Income Subsidy) can cut your drug plan premium and deductible to $0. Here are the 2026 income and resource limits and the 2027 copays.
Updated October 19, 2026
- Medicare & Seniors
Medigap explained: what it covers and why timing matters
Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) helps pay what Original Medicare doesn't. Here's how the standardized plans work and why your six-month open enrollment window matters.
Updated October 19, 2026
- Medicare & Seniors
Where to get free, unbiased Medicare help (and how to spot a scam)
SHIP counselors, 1-800-MEDICARE and Medicare's Plan Finder are free. Here's what each one does, and the red flags that a Medicare call or ad is a scam.
Updated October 19, 2026